Tipping device for emptying containers for piece goods

ABSTRACT

The invention involves a tilting device for emptying containers ( 2 ) of mixed-item loads, especially of pieces of airline luggage, which is placed along the course of a conveyor line ( 3 ), and at least one branch conveyor is bordering on the conveyor line with tilting arms located one behind the other in the direction of transport. The tilting arms can be swiveled laterally for emptying the containers ( 2 ) in each case around an axle ( 9 ) running in the direction of transport and horizontal to the extent possible, and at least two tilting arms for passing the containers ( 2 ) along between the conveyor lines ( 3 ) can be connected in a detachable way with a container ( 2 ). In order to create a tilting device for emptying containers that has an optimized operational throughput, it is proposed that the tilting arms are each to be arranged on a chassis ( 7 ), the chassis ( 7 ) are to be connected through a driven traction mechanism ( 4 ) into an endlessly-circulating chain, and the containers ( 2 ) are to be capable of being coupled and decoupled for the acceptance of, and the discharge to, the conveyor line through holding devices ( 20 ) located on the tilting arms, as well as the containers ( 2 ) resting in the coupled state on the movable tilting arms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention involves a tilting device for emptying containers ofmixed-item loads, especially for pieces of airline luggage, inaccordance with the characterizing clause of claim 1.

A tilting device of this type for emptying containers of mixed-itemloads is known from DE 44 13 967 A1. This tilting device essentiallyconsists of a multitude of chassis arranged one behind the other in thedirection of transport. The chassis are connected with each other intoan endlessly-circulating chain and can be moved on rails. In the designexample, the chassis can be moved along running rails that arehorizontal and put in place in a racetrack shape. A pair of tilting armsis provided on the chassis, spaced apart from one another in each case,viewed in the direction of transport; the tilting arms can be swiveledaround an axle running in the direction of transport and are oriented soas to be horizontal, and so as to be V-shaped to each other, viewed inthe direction of transport. The ends of the tilting arms turned awayfrom the chassis can be moved towards each other and away from eachother, in order to be able to engage with their ends in complementary,recessed grooves in the contact surface of the containers. Thecontainers can be connected with the tilting arms, and consequently withthe vehicle, because of this, in order to let the mixed-item load storedin the container to slide laterally down onto the path of travel of thebranch conveyors next to the chassis. To pass along the containers fromthe circulating chassis in the direction of a continuing conveyor lineagain, the tilting arms are moved towards each other, and the containeris consequently detached from the chassis. After this, the container istaken on by the continuing conveyor line. The coupling and decouplingmovement of the tilting arms takes place through guide rollers locatedon the ends of the tilting arms turned away from the container; theguide rollers engage in running rails going in the direction of movementand, in accordance with their course, give rise to a movement of thetilting arms relative to each other. Because the tilting arms areprovided with initial tension through a spring in the direction ofcoupling, the running rails described above are only intended for thedecoupling process. It is possible because of this that the containercan be simply emptied through a lateral swiveling of the tilting arms,without the guide rollers for the decoupling and coupling process beingin the way.

A device for emptying containers that is placed along the course of aconveyor line is known from DE 42 25 491 C1. The containers arepreferably for the transport of individual pieces of airline luggage.The emptying device essentially consists of several tilting armsarranged so as to be fixed in place, one behind the other in thedirection of transport, and with a spacing between each other. Thetilting arms extend out crosswise to the direction of transport and areeach supported in their center around an axle running in the directionof transport so as to be capable of swiveling towards both sides.Furthermore, support rollers along the lines of a roller conveyor areprovided in the area of the emptying device; the support rollers arearranged in a single row one in back of the other, viewed in thedirection of transport, and are disk-shaped. The design of the supportrollers and of the underside of the containers, with a central slotgoing along in the direction of transport, is chosen in such a way thatthe containers supported by the support rollers can be tilted towardsboth sides, as far as about 45°, on the support rollers. The tiltingmovement of the containers takes place through the double-arm tiltingarms, in order to permit the pieces of luggage transported by these toslide down on branch conveyors that are laterally bordering on theemptying device. Guides in the form of guide rollers that can be rotatedaround horizontal axles are provided for this on the opposite ends ofthe tilting arms. The guide rollers engage in guide lands that areaccordingly arranged on the container, in order to transfer theswiveling movement of the tilting arms to the containers. The tiltingarms, one behind the other in the transport direction, are at a distanceto each other that is less than the length of the containers, so thatthe containers can be passed along during the tilting process to thesubsequent tilting arm in the transport direction, which is in the sametilted position.

This emptying device is suitable for a multitude of applications anddistinguishes itself by the fixed arrangement of the tilting arms. Theoperating throughput of the emptying device is limited, however, by thefact that an adequate gap has to exist between the individual containersto be emptied, so that the tilting arms can right themselves again intothe horizontal position out of the swiveled position for taking on thefollowing container.

Another tilting device for mixed-item loads placed in the course of aconveyor line is already known from the German patent document DE 21 51439 C2, which essentially consists of carrying trays that can be movedin the transport direction and which can be swiveled to the right or tothe left side around an axle running in the transport direction fortilting off the mixed-item load. The mixed-item load can consequently beselectively passed along to a neighboring branch conveyor. The carryingtrays are each attached through a tilting arm on individual chassis thatare arranged one behind the other in the transport direction andconnected with each other. The chassis consequently form an endlesschain that is guided around a deflection wheel at the transition pointsto the neighboring conveyor line and that is therefore designed to beendlessly circulating. The mixed-item load is passed along to thecarrying tray of the upper free-running part of the chain from theneighboring conveyor line for the tilting process and is either tiltedoff in the direction of the branch conveyor line or passed along to theconveyor line connected to the tilting device for further transport. Thetilting movement of the carrying tray takes place through a lever armacting on the tilting arm; the lever arm essentially extends verticallydownwards and has a guide roller on the end that is turned away from thetilting arm. The guide roller is run in a guide rail going along thepath of motion of the chassis of the carrying trays, designed so as tobe circulating and racetrack-shaped. The carrying tray is locked intoits horizontal position in this way. Distributing guides are arrangedalong the course of the guide rail for the tilting process, in order todivert the guide roller into a tilting rail located above or below theguide rail, depending on the desired tilting direction to the right orleft side. Because of the diverting of the guide roller, the lever armis pulled down or pushed up in an appropriate way; the carrying tray isthereby tilted to the right or to the left. The changeover of thedistributing guides takes place through a double-action pneumaticcylinder. Its horizontally directed movement is turned into a swivelingof the distributing guides in the vertical direction through 2 rollers,each working in a combined action with a link guide.

This tilting device for mixed-item loads is only suitable for tiltingoff a piece of the mixed-item load onto a preselected branch conveyor,however. Utilizing it for specifically emptying containers is notpossible.

The problem of creating a tilting device for emptying containers ofmixed-item loads, especially of pieces of airline luggage, which has anoptimal operational throughput, is at the root of the invention at hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This problem is solved in the case of a tilting device for emptyingcontainers of mixed-item loads by the characteristics specified in claim1. Advantageous design variations of the invention are indicated independent claims 2 through 11.

In accordance with the invention, the assignment of at least two tiltingarms to a container during the entire tilting process, and consequentlythe reset movement of the tilting arm into the horizontal position withthe container as well, is achieved because of the design of the tiltingarms to move along in the transport direction. Having to provideadditional time for the resetting of the tilting arms is therebyavoided. The operational throughput, or the length of the tiltingdevice, is optimized in this way. Operational throughputs of 2500containers per hour can be achieved with a tilting device of this type.

The tilting arms are expediently guided via chassis in a running railand are driven via an endlessly circulating traction mechanism,preferably a chain. This design form leads to a low overall height ofthe tilting device.

The arrangement of permanent magnets at the ends of the tilting arms, aswell as of a material that can be held by the magnetic force, especiallysteel sheeting, on the bottom of the container floor, proves to be aparticularly advantageous manner of fastening the containers on thetilting arms if the container is made of plastic. The connection of thepermanent magnets with the container can be easily released at the endof the tilting device through the downwards tilting movement of thetilting arms, and the container can be securely passed along to thesubsequent conveyor line.

A gentle coupling to, and decoupling from, the container is achievedthrough the tilting movement of the permanent magnets, viewed in thetransport direction and taking place at the beginning and the end of thetilting device, around an axle oriented crosswise to the direction oftransport into or out of its essentially horizontal position on thetilting arms. Furthermore, contact of the holding agent with the bottomof the container that is across as much of the surface as possible and asecure holding of the containers on the tilting arms, and also duringthe tilting movement, are achieved because of the disk-shaped design ofthe holding agents; a disk surface is turned towards the container to becoupled, and the supplemental positioning of the holding agents on thetilting arms, so as to be slightly movable in an angular direction,brings this about.

It also turns out to be advantageous to provide the chassis with runnersthat roll down running rails, which take a course that isracetrack-shaped, viewed crosswise to the direction of transport, andthe traction mechanism with the chassis located on it is guided throughtwo deflection wheels located in the area of the ends of the runningrails.

To carry out the tilting movement of the containers, a lever arm isflexibly supported on every tilting arm, outside of its axis, whichessentially has a vertical orientation and which has a guide roller onthe end turned away from the tilting arm. This guide roller engages in aguide rail running parallel to the racetrack-shaped running rail to holdthe tilting arm in its horizontal transport position. For the swivelingof the tilting arms, distributing rails are provided along the course ofthe guide rails; the distributing rails can be swiveled around adistributing joint with an axle oriented crosswise to the direction oftransport and horizontal and can be diverted through the guide rollersfrom the guide rail into a tilting rail vertically displaced with regardto the guide rail. Because of the pulling or pushing force acting on thelever arm in this way in the vertical direction, the tilting arm andconsequently the container attached to it will be swiveled to either oneside or the other of the tilting device. This design of the tiltingmechanics proves to be very simple in a construction design sense,because it is essentially based on mechanical components. Thesusceptibility to malfunction of a mechanical solution of this type isalso very low.

The arrangement of a distributing rail that can be swiveled around adistributing element along the course of the guide rail has proven to bean advantageous design form of the distributing elements. Thedistributing rail has a length in connection with this that correspondsapproximately to the length of the container. A relatively gentletilting movement of the tilting arms, and consequently of the tiltingcontainer, is possible because of this. The distributing rail can beswiveled out of its horizontal neutral position into its operatingposition through a drive unit. In the operating position, thedistributing rail connects the guide rail with a tilting rail assignedto this.

The use of a planar cam drive with prismatic and revolute joints alongthe lines of a Geneva stop has proven to be advantageous as a drive unitfor the swiveling movement of the distributing rail. This is due to thefact that it is ensured because of this that the drive unit, which ispreferably designed as an electromotor with gearing preceding it, is notsubjected to rotational stress in the neutral position and even in theoperational position of the tilting rail, and the supporting forces ofthe distributing rail can be directly passed into the drive shaft of thegearing. The cam drive consequently proves to be self-locking.

This cam drive is realized by a pin disk located on the drive shaft thatessentially consists of a pin located at an offset to the drive shaft;the pin engages in a slot of a slotted disk that can be rotatedcoaxially to the pin disk. A connection rod is flexibly supported at theend of the slotted disk opposite the slot; the connection rod isconnected to the distributing rail and has the task of converting therotational movement of the slotted disk into a lifting and loweringmovement of the distributing rail. So that the previously-describedself-locking of the cam drive is possible, curved bearing faces areprovided on the pin disk and on the slotted disk; the bearing faces lietogether in the operating position and neutral position of the pin diskand slotted disk and consequently take the stress off the pin. Betweenthe two positions, the pin disk can be swiveled by 90° and, in bothswivel positions of the pin disk, the slot is arranged in each case withits lengthwise extension tangential to the shaft of the pin disk and ata distance to this shaft.

Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous to provide a double set ofguide rails and tilting rails that are located on the right and leftside beneath the running rails, viewed in the direction of transport. Itis possible because of this to provide a distributing element on theleft side and a further distributing element following shortly afterthat, in the direction of motion, on the right side in each case at thebeginning of the running rails of the tilting device. The spacing of thedistributing elements corresponds to the spacing of the successivetilting arms, which jointly support a container in each case; theirsimultaneous swiveling is possible because of this. It is possible, dueto the laterally-displaced arrangement of the distributing elements, toincrease the speed of the chassis because the spacings between theindividual guide rollers is doubled on one side of the guide rails andtilting rails, and consequently sufficient time is left to switch thedistributing rails into the desired position before the next guideroller arrives, even at higher conveyor speeds. The tilting arms areeach arranged so as to be twisted by 90° on the chassis for this and theguide rollers are each provided so as to alternately engage in the rightrails or in the left rails, viewed in the direction of transport.

The invention is explained more closely below with the aid of a designexample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a tilting device for containers, inaccordance with the invention, arranged along the course of a beltconveyor,

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of FIG. 1, along the cut line II—II,

FIG. 3 shows an enlargement of a cutout area of FIG. 2 from the area ofthe tilting drive unit, but in the tilted position of the tilting arm,

FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of a cutout area of FIG. 1 from the area ofthe distributing elements,

FIG. 5 shows an enlargement of a cut-out area of FIG. 4 from the area ofa drive unit of a distributing element and

FIG. 6 shows a top view of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a side view of a tilting device 1 in accordance with theinvention for emptying containers 2, especially transport containers forpieces of airline luggage, is presented. The tilting device 1 isarranged along the course of a conveyor line 3, which is preferablydesigned as a belt conveyor, on which the transport containers arelaterally taken off by one belt each. The conveyor line 3 is forsupplying and carrying away the containers 2 to or from the tiltingdevice 1. The tilting device 1 has the task of laterally swiveling thecontainers 2 to one side and crosswise to the direction of transport F,in order to deliver the transport goods conveyed by the containers 2 tobranch conveyors, which are not shown and which are preferably designedas chutes.

The tilting device 1 essentially consists of an endlessly-circulatingtraction mechanism 4 that is guided at the beginning and at the end ofthe tilting device 1 through deflection wheels 5, which are supported soas to be capable of rotating around horizontal axles running crosswiseto the direction of transport F. The traction mechanism, which is onlypartially shown, is preferably designed as a chain and, accordingly, thedeflection wheels 5 as gear wheels. The traction mechanism 4 is guidedbetween the deflection wheels 5 by running rails 6 (also see FIG. 3 andFIG. 4), which extend in the direction of transport F and which are openat the sides. The guide surfaces of the running rails are preferablymade of plastic. Chassis 7 are attached to the traction mechanism 4 bybolts; the chassis can consequently be driven in the direction oftransport F in the area of the upper free-running part of the tractionmechanism 4. A multitude of chassis 7 are arranged along the tractionmechanism 4; the spacing of the chassis to each other is chosen in sucha way that two successive chassis 7 in the direction of transport F forma pair in each case, each of which carries a container 2. Every pair isspaced from one another in dependence on the length of the container 2,while maintaining a minimum spacing to the succeeding container 2. Atilting arm 8 is attached to every chassis 7 for the swiveling processof the containers 2; the tilting arm can be swiveled around an axle 9(see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) that runs in the direction of transport F andhorizontally.

The chassis 7 essentially consists of a frame 10 on which the tiltingarm 8 is supported via an axle 9. This description refers to a chassis 7that moves in the direction of transport F in the area of the upperfree-running part of the traction mechanism 4. Furthermore, the chassis8 has four rollers 11 that, viewed in the direction of transport F, arearranged in pairs in each case, one behind the other, and consequentlyalso next to each other (also see FIGS. 2 and 3). The rollers 11 rolldown running rails 6 that are arranged on the tilting device 1 so as torun along the traction mechanism 4. Viewed from the side, the runningrail 6 has a racetrack-shaped design, i.e. this consists of twoparallel, straight rails lying opposite each other; the ends of therails are connected with each other through a semicircular rail in eachcase.

The tilting movement of the tilting arms 8 takes place through acoupling rod 12, which is supported on the tilting arm 8 so as to becapable of swiveling via an axle 13 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of a joint headrunning in the direction of transport F and which essentially extendsvertically downwards. A guide roller 14 is arranged on the end of thecoupling rod 12 turned away from the tilting arm 8; the guide rollerengages in a running rail 15 a, 15 b running in parallel to the runningrail 6 and consequently also racetrack-shaped. In order to move thetilting arms 8 out of their horizontal transport position into theirtilted position, tilting rails 16 a, 16 b are provided in parallel tothe running rails 15 a, 15 b and running above or beneath these. Therunning rails 15 a, 15 b and the tilting rails 16 a, 16 b are connectedwith each other through distributing elements 17 a, 17 b. An initiationof the swiveling movement of the tilting arms 8 is consequently possibleby switching over the distributing elements 17 a, 17 b, because there iseither a push upwards or a pull downwards through the diversion of theguide roller 14 from the running rail 15 a, 15 b to the assigned tiltingrail 16 of the coupling rod 12, and the tilting arm 8 is consequentlyswiveled.

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 1 along the cut lineII—II, from which the design of the containers 2 is to be noted, amongother things. These containers 2 are especially suited for transferringout the transported conveyor goods, in the form of suitcases, backpacksor bags, by tilting to around 45°. Trough-shaped means here that thecontainers 2 have side walls 18 oriented crosswise to the direction oftransport F; the side walls are oriented so as to be nearlyperpendicular to the floor 19 of the container 2, in order to preventthe transport goods from leaving the container 2 during the transport ofthe containers 2 on the conveyor lines 3 in ascending sections,descending sections and curves. In the design example at hand, the innerside walls 18 of the container 2, which are oriented towards thedirection of transport F, are more or less arranged with an angle of 20°to the floor 19. This slanted design of the sidewall 19 encourages asliding out of the transport goods onto the neighboring branch line whenthe container 2 tilts.

The containers 2 are locked together with the tilting arm 8 via holdingdevices 20 on the tilting device 1 during the transport movement in thedirection of transport F. At the same time, the container 2 rests withits floor 19 on the tilting arm 8. The holding devices 20 are preferablydesigned as permanent magnets, and the container, which is preferablymade of plastic, is accordingly provided with a profiled steel sheet inthe area of the exterior of its floor 19. The profiled steel sheetmoreover serves to protect the container 2 made of plastic.

It is also possible to design the holding devices 20 as a mechanicallatch and to provide corresponding recesses on the container 2 or to useelectromagnets.

Furthermore, it can be noted from FIG. 2 that the running rails 6 forthe chassis 7 are composed of two U-shaped sections that are placedstanding upright and with their open sides turned towards each other,and laterally arranged with the exterior of the flange on a supportingframe 23. The rollers 11 of the chassis 7 each roll on the lower land ofthe U-shaped running rails 6. The diameter of the runners 11 is chosenin such a way that a slight gap remains to the upper land of the runningrail 6 when there are runners 11 resting on the lower land of therunning rail 6. It is possible because of this, on the one hand, thatthe rollers 11 can travel in the running rail 6 without jamming and, onthe other hand, the tilting moment applied to the chassis 7 can be takenup by these because of the lateral shifting of the container 2 duringthe tilting process by the runner 11 turned away from the protrudingpart of the tilting arm 8 lifting from the lower land of the runningrail 6 and setting down directly after this on the upper land of therunning rail 6. The forces resulting from the tilting moment aresecurely passed along into the running rail 6 and the supporting framebecause of this. The runners 11 of the chassis 7, which lie next to eachother, are supported on sections of a carrying axle 23, placed in acoaxial manner with respect to each other in each case; the carryingaxle is connected with the frame 10 of the chassis 7 between the runners11. The frame 10 is connected to the traction mechanism 4 by means ofcarrier elements with pins 24 that extend in the direction of thesupporting frame 22 as well as downwards—viewed in reference to theupper chassis 7. In the case that the traction mechanism 4 is designedas a tooth-type chain, it is a matter of laterally extended pins for thelink plates in the case of the pins 24.

The tilting arm 8 essentially consists of a profile section that extendscrosswise to the direction of transport F; the profile section issupported in the center of its lengthwise extension on an axle 9 runningin the direction of transport F and consequently on the frame 10 of thechassis 7. Each of the holding devices 20 are placed at the ends of thetilting arms 8 and in extension of these. The holding devices 20designed as permanent magnets are connected with the tilting arm 8through connection elements 21, especially steel sheet strips, that havelimited flexibility. It is possible, because of the flexible attachment,for the surface of the holding device 20 to set down across its fullsurface on the underside of the floor 19 of the container 2. The holdingpower of the holding device 20 is optimized because of this. It is alsopossible to support the magnets in a pot-shaped plastic element and tofirmly connect this with the tilting arm 8, or to directly connect theholding devices 20 with the tilting arm 8.

Furthermore, the arrangement of the guide rails 15 a, 15 b and of thetilting rails 16 a, 16 b can be noted from FIG. 2. It is evident that apair of guide rails 15 a, 15 b are provided with tilting rails 16 a, 16b in the area of the upper free-running part of the traction mechanism 4in each case, beneath the running rails 6 in each case, viewed in thedirection of transport F. Only one guide rail 15 a, 15 b and no tiltingrail 16 a, 16 b is located on each side of the tilting device 11 in thearea of the lower free-running part of the traction mechanism 4. In FIG.2, a chassis 7 with a tilting arm 8 is presented, the coupling rod 12 ofwhich engages through its guide roller 14 in the guide rail 15 a, whichis located on the right side, viewed in the direction of transport F,and if necessary in its assigned tilting rail 16 a. The chassis 7 withthe tilting arm 8, following in the direction of transport F, isarranged in a mirror image to the chassis 7 presented in FIG. 2; bothtilting arms 8 form a pair in order to support a container so that thecoupling rod 12 is linked on the left-hand side of the tilting arm 8,designed as a double arm, over its axle 13. This other chassis 7 of thepair is presented in FIG. 3 in a swiveled, tilted position.

For the joint swiveling movement of the two tilting arms 8, whichjointly support a container 2 in each case, the tilting arm 8 which isin the front with regard to the direction of transport F can be swiveledby the guide roller 14 being deviated from the lower, or inner as thecase may be, guide rail 15 on the right-hand side via a distributingelement 17 a (see FIGS. 4 and 5) into the tilting rail 16 a locatedbetween the guide rail 15 a and the running rail 6. The coupling rod 12is moved upwards in the vertical direction because of this, and thetilting arm 8 is swiveled to the left around the axle 9 by around 45°.

Because no swiveling of the tilting arms 8 is necessary in the area ofthe lower free-running part of the traction mechanism 4, only one guiderail 15 a is placed on the right-hand side and one guide rail 15 on theleft-hand side, offset upwards.

In comparison to FIG. 3, which shows an enlargement of a cut-out sectionof FIG. 2 from the area of the tilting drive unit, but for the rearchassis 7, viewed in the direction of transport F, with a tilting arm 8of the pair of tilting arms 8, it is evident that the guide rail 15 band the tilting rail 16 b, located on the left-hand side when viewed inthe direction of transport F, are reversed with each other vis-à-vis theright-hand side. The tilting rail 16 b is consequently located beneaththe guide rail 15 b. This arrangement can also be noted from FIG. 2,where it can be seen in the area of the lower free-running part of thetraction mechanism 4 that the guide rail 15 b is placed on the left-handside in the neighboring area and nearly bordering on the running rail 6,and the guide rail 15 is offset upwards on the right-hand side in thevertical direction by approximately the height of a tilting rail 16 plusa gap from the upper side of the lower running rail 6.

Further, it can be noted from FIG. 3 that a connecting rod 25 issupported so as to be able to swivel on an axle 26 running in thedirection of transport F on the side of the tilting arm 8 designed as adouble arm, which is turned away from the coupling rod 12. Theconnecting rod 25 is essentially oriented vertically in all of thepositions of the tilting arm 8 and is supported on the end turned awayfrom the tilting arm 8 through a spring element 27 on the frame 10 ofthe chassis 7. This spring element 27 has the task of providing initialtension to the tilting arm 8 vis-à-vis the frame 10 of the chassis 7, sothat the guide roller 14 runs down in each case on the upper flange ofthe guide rail 15 a, 15 b, designed to be U-shaped and to be open on theside, or the tilting rail 16 a, 16 b in the horizontal transportposition, on the one hand, and also in the slanted tilt position. Thetilting arm 8 is stabilized because of this during the entire tiltingprocess and even during the return in the area of the lower free-runningpart of the traction mechanism 4.

Further, FIG. 3 shows that the guide roller 14 is connected through adrag arm 28 with the end of the coupling rod 12 turned away from thetilting arm 8 via an axle 29. This drag arm 28 can likewise be found inthe side view of FIG. 4. The axle 29 is oriented so as to be crosswiseto the direction of transport F and horizontal. With regard to thesupport of the coupling rod 12 on the drag arm 28, it can be noted inFIGS. 3 and 4 that this takes place through an axle 30 oriented so as tobe crosswise to the direction of transport F. The axles 13 and 30 areeach components of ball-and-socket joints, in order to balance out thedisplacements that arise during the three-dimensional movement of thetilting arm 8 during the tilting process. Being able to do withoutadditional guiding of the coupling rod 12 in the vertical direction isachieved by the connection of the guide roller 14 through the drag arm28 with the frame 10 and the engagement of the coupling rod 12 on thedrag arm 28 above the bearing arrangement of the guide roller 14. Theguide roller 14 and the drag arm 28 are pulled along behind the chassis7 because of the linking of the drag arm 28 in the front, viewed in thedirection of transport F, on the frame 10. This type of movement of theguide roller 14 in the guide rail 15 and the tilting rail 16 increasesthe stability of the joint connection of the drag arm 28 and thecoupling rod 12 among each other.

Moreover, it is evident by a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 that aconnecting sheet 31 is additionally located on a lever side of thetilting arm 8; either the connecting rod 25 or the coupling rod 12 isconnected with the tilting arm 8 through the connecting sheet, dependingon whether the front or the back tilting arm 8 of the pair of tiltingarms 8 is involved in each case for the transport of a container 2.Being able to use identically designed coupling rods 12 is achievedbecause of this, even though the guide rail 15 a, 15 b and the tiltingrail 16 a, 16 b are exchanged for each other, and consequently offsetvertically, on the two opposite sides.

FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of a cut-out section of FIG. 1 from the areaof the two successive distributing elements 17 a and 17 b, in thedirection of transport F, which essentially consists of a drive unit 32(see FIG. 6) and a planar cm drive with prismatic and revolute jointsalong the lines of a Geneva stop. The drive unit 32 consists of anelectromotor with gearing preceding it. The drive unit 32 is supportedon the supporting frame 22 of the tilting device 1 and connected on thedrive unit side through a shaft 33, oriented crosswise and horizontal tothe direction of transport F, with a pin disk 34 supported on this. Thepin disk 34 has the function of a lever arm supported on one side of theshaft 33, the end of the lever arm turned away from the shaft 33 isprovided with a pin 35, which is oriented coaxially to the shaft 33. Thepin 35 is preferably provided with a roller. The pin 35 engages in aslot 36, open on one side and having an oblong shape, of a slotted disk37, which is supported so as to be able to rotate around a further shaft38 oriented coaxially to the shaft 33 of the pin disk 34. The slotteddisk 37 is designed in a square shape as a first approximation,supported off-center on the shaft 38, and has two concave bearingsurfaces 37′, for self-locking of the cam drive unit in its endpositions. With regard to function, the slotted disk 37 is designed as adouble lever; the slot 36 is located on the one lever arm. The imaginaryextension of the slot centrally cuts the shaft 38. A connecting rod 40is supported on the opposite lever arm of the slotted disk 37, andconsequently on the side opposite the slot 36, through an axle 39oriented so as to be coaxial to the shaft 38. The end of the connectingrod turned away from the axle 39 is attached through a further axle 45,oriented to be parallel to the axle 35, to a distributing rail 41. Thepin-slot connection is for swiveling the distributing rail 42; thefixing of the distributing rail 42 in the end positions takes placethrough the bearing surfaces 34′, 37′.

This distributing rail 41 has a length extending in the direction oftransport F that is approximately within the range of the length of acontainer 2 and can be swiveled into its operating position through adistributing joint 42 from its neutral position, in which this islocated along the course of the guide rail 15 b. The distributing rail41 b connects the guide rail 15 b with the tilting rail 16 b in theoperating position and is set up with a descending slope, viewed in thedirection of transport F. The distributing joint 42 for the distributingrail 41 b is not presented in FIG. 4, because this is outside of theright edge of the drawing due to the length of the distributing rail 41b, because of which a gentle tilting movement of the containers 2 isachieved. The distributing joint 42 for the distributing rail 41 a can,however, be found in the top view of FIG. 4 in FIG. 6. The distributingrail 41 is designed with two parts in the design example, in order toreduce its length. A first part is connected with the distributing joint42, and a second part 41 a is attached in a fixed manner to thebeginning of the tilting rail 16 b. The second part 41 b is, inaccordance with the orientation of the first part in the operatingposition, oriented so as to be at an angle to the tilting rail 16.

The distributing guide 41 b is presented in its horizontally-runningneutral position in FIG. 4; the operating position of the distributingrail 41 b is only indicated by the drawn-in, fixed end 41 b′.Furthermore, it can be noted from FIG. 4 that the distributing rail 41 bnext to the distributing joint 42 is also additionally held in thevertical direction on its end turned away from the distributing joint 42and consequently at the front, viewed in the direction of transport F,through guide elements 43. The guide elements 43 consist of a U-shapedpiece, which is attached to the supporting frame 22, and its open sideis oriented towards the front, viewed in the direction of transport F. Astrip-shaped element, which is attached to the distributing rail 41,engages in the opening. The connecting rod 40 engages on thedistributing rail 41 b close to the guide elements 43 and at a distancefrom the distributing joint 42.

Moreover, the corresponding design of the distributing rail 41 a of thedistributing element 17 a can be noted from FIG. 4. The distributingrail 41 a is also presented in its neutral position here as well, andthe operating position is only alluded to by the front end of the fixedpart o the distributing rail 41 a′, lying in the direction of transportF. The slot 36 of the slotted disk 37 of the distributing element 17 ais shown here in its two possible positions.

The manner of functioning and the advantages of the drive unit 32 of thedistributing element 17 are explained in more detail below with the aidof FIG. 5, which shows an enlargement of a cut-out section of FIG. 4from the area of the distributing element 17 b. The distributing rail 41b is located in its raised and horizontal neutral position, so the guideroller 14 of the coupling rods 12 of the chassis 7 are guided along theguide rail 15 b, and the tilting arm 18 is consequently in its transportposition. In this neutral position, the distributing rail 41 b is heldvia the connecting rod 40, which is connected in an articulated way forthis with the distributing rail 41 b through an assembly angle 44 andthe axle 45 and is supported on one end of the slotted disk 37, which isheld in its neutral position through bearing surfaces 34′, 37′, of theslotted disk 37 and the pin disk 34, lying one on the other. Because theslot 36 is oriented with its lengthwise extension tangential to theshaft 33 in the operating position and also in the neutral position ofthe distributing rail 41 b, forces in the direction of the shaft 33 areonly passed along through the bearing surfaces 34′, 37′ into the pindisk 34, and the forces consequently do not subject the drive unit 32 torotational stress. This cam drive unit is consequently designatedself-locking.

The lever relationships on the slotted disk 37 are chosen in alignmentwith the adjustment path of the distributing rail 41 b in such a waythat, even in the operating position of the pin disk 34 and of theslotted disk 37 (see FIG. 4, distributing elements 17 a), the slot 36 isoriented with its lengthwise extension tangential to the shaft 33, andthe bearing surfaces 34′, 37′ lie one on the other. By twisting the pindisk 34 by 90°, the distributing rail 41 is consequently capable ofbeing swiveled out of its operating position into its neutral positionor vice versa. The gearing connection of the distributing rail 41through the pin disk 34 and the slotted disk 37 has, moreover, theadvantage that a low starting moment is required, especially in the caseof a drive unit 32 designed in the form of an electromotor, because thepin 35 is moved relatively freely at first in the direction of thelengthwise extension of the slot 36 at the start of its movement, andthe share of forces to transfer to the side walls of the slot 36 onlyincreases with an increasing swiveling of the pin disk 34.

Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows that the connecting rod 40 can be adjusted asto its length. The transition between the end of the distributing rail41 and the beginning of the guide rail 15 or of the tilting rail 16 canbe easily adjusted because of this.

Moreover, it can be noted from FIG. 6, which shows a top view of FIG. 4,that the distributing joint 42 is designed as a hinge joint. This hingejoint has a swivel axis oriented horizontally and crosswise to thedirection of transport F and essentially consists of an arm-shapedbearing element on the supporting frame 22, which has a bore hole for anaxle on its end that is turned away from the supporting frame 22. Afork-shaped joint part is pushed on the axle at the ends projecting fromthe fastening element; the joint part is connected through an angledpiece with the distributing rail 41 a.

The embodiments of the present invention in which an exclusive propertyor privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A tilting device foremptying containers of mixed-item loads which is placed along the courseof a conveyor line and at least one branch conveyor bordering theconveyor line, comprising: tilting arms located one behind the other ina direction of transport, the tilting arms able to be laterally swiveledfor emptying the load from the container onto the branch conveyor arounda substantially horizontal axle running in the direction of transport; aplurality of chassis connected in an endlessly circulating chain througha driven traction mechanism, said tilting arms being located on saidchassis and said containers being adapted to be coupled and decoupledwith the chassis, each said chassis being movable in the direction oftransport for the passing along of the containers between the conveyorlines via at least two of said tilting arms, for acceptance from anddischarge to the conveyor line, each of the containers resting in thecoupled state on the movable tilting arms, and; holding devices arrangedon the tilting arms being designed as permanent magnets, wherein thecontainers are magnetic, at least in the area of their contact surface.2. A tilting device according to claim 1 wherein the traction mechanismis guided via two deflection wheels which are each located in an area oftransition between the branch conveyor and the conveyor line and whichcan be rotated around horizontal axles so that the holding devicesessentially move from below, towards, or away from the contact surfaceof the container for coupling or decoupling during the acceptance ordischarge of the containers.
 3. A tilting device according to claim 1wherein the holding devices are designed in a disk shape, with one disksurface turned towards the container to be coupled and being supportedon the tilting arm with limited angular mobility.
 4. A tilting deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein the holding devices are designed in a diskshape, with one disk surface turned towards the container to be coupledand being supported on the tilting arm with limited angular mobility. 5.A tilting device according to claim 1 wherein the holding devices arearranged on the lateral ends of the tilting arms.
 6. A tilting deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein the holding devices are arranged on thelateral ends of the tilting arms.
 7. A tilting device according to claim3 wherein the holding devices are arranged on the lateral ends of thetilting arms.
 8. A tilting device according to claim 1 whereinexclusively one tilting arm is located on each chassis and the spacingbetween the two tilting arms, viewed in the direction of transport, iscoordinated to the length of the containers in such a way that acontainer can be carried by two tilting arms.
 9. A tilting deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein exclusively one tilting arm is located oneach chassis and the spacing between the two tilting arms, viewed in thedirection of transport, is coordinated to the length of the containersin such a way that a container can be carried by two tilting arms.
 10. Atilting device according to claim 3 wherein exclusively one tilting armis located on each chassis and the spacing between the two tilting arms,viewed in the direction of transport, is coordinated to the length ofthe containers in such a way that a container can be carried by twotilting arms.
 11. A tilting device according to claim 5 whereinexclusively one tilting arm is located on each chassis and the spacingbetween the two tilting arms, viewed in the direction of transport, iscoordinated to the length of the containers in such a way that acontainer can be carried by two tilting arms.
 12. A tilting deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein the chassis have rollers that run downrunning rails going crosswise in a racetrack shape, viewed in thedirection of transport, and the deflection wheels are arranged in thearea of the ends of the running rails.
 13. A tilting device according toclaim 3 wherein the chassis have rollers that run down running railsgoing crosswise in a racetrack shape, viewed in the direction oftransport, and the deflection wheels are arranged in the area of theends of the running rails.
 14. A tilting device according to claim 5wherein the chassis have rollers that run down running rails goingcrosswise in a racetrack shape, viewed in the direction of transport,and the deflection wheels are arranged in the area of the ends of therunning rails.
 15. A tilting device according to claim 8 wherein thechassis have rollers that run down running rails going crosswise in aracetrack shape, viewed in the direction of transport, and thedeflection wheels are arranged in the area of the ends of the runningrails.
 16. A tilting device according to claim 1, further including: acoupling rod engaging in a flexible fashion on every tilting arm outsideof its axle for the tilting movement of the containers, the coupling rodoriented substantially vertically; and a guide roller supported on itsend turned away from the tilting arm, the guide roller being guided in aguide rail running parallel to the running rail to hold the tilting armsin their horizontal transport position, and the guide roller able to bediverted into a tilting rail arranged so as to be vertically offset tothe guide rail for a swiveling of the tilting arms around the axlethrough a switchable distributing element.
 17. A tilting deviceaccording to claim 2, further including: a coupling rod engaging in aflexible fashion on every tilting arm outside of its axle for thetilting movement of the containers, the coupling rod orientedsubstantially vertically; and a guide roller supported on its end turnedaway from the tilting arm, the guide roller being guided in a guide railrunning parallel to the running rail to hold the tilting arms in theirhorizontal transport position, and the guide roller able to be divertedinto a tilting rail arranged so as to be vertically offset to the guiderail for a swiveling of the tilting arms around the axle through aswitchable distributing element.
 18. A tilting device according to claim3, further including: a coupling rod engaging in a flexible fashion onevery tilting arm outside of its axle for the tilting movement of thecontainers, the coupling rod oriented substantially vertically; and aguide roller supported on its end turned away from the tilting arm, theguide roller being guided in a guide rail running parallel to therunning rail to hold the tilting arms in their horizontal transportposition, and the guide roller able to be diverted into a tilting railarranged so as to be vertically offset to the guide rail for a swivelingof the tilting arms around the axle through a switchable distributingelement.
 19. A tilting device according to claim 5, further including: acoupling rod engaging in a flexible fashion on every tilting arm outsideof its axle for the tilting movement of the containers, the coupling rodoriented substantially vertically; and a guide roller supported on itsend turned away from the tilting arm, the guide roller being guided in aguide rail running parallel to the running rail to hold the tilting armsin their horizontal transport position, and the guide roller able to bediverted into a tilting rail arranged so as to be vertically offset tothe guide rail for a swiveling of the tilting arms around the axlethrough a switchable distributing element.
 20. A tilting deviceaccording to claim 8, further including: a coupling rod engaging in aflexible fashion on every tilting arm outside of its axle for thetilting movement of the containers, the coupling rod orientedsubstantially vertically; and a guide roller supported on its end turnedaway from the tilting arm, the guide roller being guided in a guide railrunning parallel to the running rail to hold the tilting arms in theirhorizontal transport position, and the guide roller able to be divertedinto a tilting rail arranged so as to be vertically offset to the guiderail for a swiveling of the tilting arms around the axle through aswitchable distributing element.
 21. A tilting device according to claim12, further including: a coupling rod engaging in a flexible fashion onevery tilting arm outside of its axle for the tilting movement of thecontainers, the coupling rod oriented substantially vertically; and aguide roller supported on its end turned away from the tilting arm, theguide roller being guided in a guide rail running parallel to therunning rail to hold the tilting arms in their horizontal transportposition, and the guide roller able to be diverted into a tilting railarranged so as to be vertically offset to the guide rail for a swivelingof the tilting arms around the axle through a switchable distributingelement.
 22. A tilting device according to claim 16 wherein theswitchable distributing element includes a distributing rail that islocated in its horizontal neutral position along the course of the guiderail and can be swiveled through a drive unit into an operating positionthat is swiveled and that connects the guide rail with the assignedtilting rail.
 23. A tilting device according to claim 17 wherein theswitchable distributing element includes a distributing rail that islocated in its horizontal neutral position along the course of the guiderail and can be swiveled through a drive unit into an operating positionthat is swiveled and that connects the guide rail with the assignedtilting rail.
 24. A tilting device according to claim 18 wherein theswitchable distributing element includes a distributing rail that islocated in its horizontal neutral position along the course of the guiderail and can be swiveled through a drive unit into an operating positionthat is swiveled and that connects the guide rail with the assignedtilting rail.
 25. A tilting device according to claim 19 wherein theswitchable distributing element includes a distributing rail that islocated in its horizontal neutral position along the course of the guiderail and can be swiveled through a drive unit into an operating positionthat is swiveled and that connects the guide rail with the assignedtilting rail.
 26. A tilting device according to claim 20 wherein theswitchable distributing element includes a distributing rail that islocated in its horizontal neutral position along the course of the guiderail and can be swiveled through a drive unit into an operating positionthat is swiveled and that connects the guide rail with the assignedtilting rail.
 27. A tilting device according to claim 21 wherein theswitchable distributing element includes a distributing rail that islocated in its horizontal neutral position along the course of the guiderail and can be swiveled through a drive unit into an operating positionthat is swiveled and that connects the guide rail with the assignedtilting rail.
 28. A tilting device according to claim 22 furtherincluding: a cam drive along the line of a Geneva stop provided for theswiveling movement of the distributing rail through the drive unit, thecam drive having a pin disk capable of being driven and crosswise to thedirection of transport, the pin disk engaging in a slot located in aslotted disk through a pin; and a connecting rod which converts therotary movement of the slotted disk into a lifting or lowering movementof the distributing rail, said connecting rod supported on the slotteddisk.
 29. A tilting device according to claim 23 further including: acam drive along the line of a Geneva stop provided for the swivelingmovement of the distributing rail through the drive unit, the cam drivehaving a pin disk capable of being driven and crosswise to the directionof transport, the pin disk engaging in a slot located in a slotted diskthrough a pin; and a connecting rod which converts the rotary movementof the slotted disk into a lifting or lowering movement of thedistributing rail, said connecting rod supported on the slotted disk.30. A tilting device according to claim 24 further including: a camdrive along the line of a Geneva stop provided for the swivelingmovement of the distributing rail through the drive unit, the cam drivehaving a pin disk capable of being driven and crosswise to the directionof transport, the pin disk engaging in a slot located in a slotted diskthrough a pin; and a connecting rod which converts the rotary movementof the slotted disk into a lifting or lowering movement of thedistributing rail, said connecting rod supported on the slotted disk.31. A tilting device according to claim 25 further including: a camdrive along the line of a Geneva stop provided for the swivelingmovement of the distributing rail through the drive unit, the cam drivehaving a pin disk capable of being driven and crosswise to the directionof transport, the pin disk engaging in a slot located in a slotted diskthrough a pin; and a connecting rod which converts the rotary movementof the slotted disk into a lifting or lowering movement of thedistributing rail, said connecting rod supported on the slotted disk.32. A tilting device according to claim 26 further including: a camdrive along the line of a Geneva stop provided for the swivelingmovement of the distributing rail through the drive unit, the cam drivehaving a pin disk capable of being driven and crosswise to the directionof transport, the pin disk engaging in a slot located in a slotted diskthrough a pin; and a connecting rod which converts the rotary movementof the slotted disk into a lifting or lowering movement of thedistributing rail, said connecting rod supported on the slotted disk.33. A tilting device according to claim 27 further including: a camdrive along the line of a Geneva stop provided for the swivelingmovement of the distributing rail through the drive unit, the cam drivehaving a pin disk capable of being driven and crosswise to the directionof transport, the pin disk engaging in a slot located in a slotted diskthrough a pin; and a connecting rod which converts the rotary movementof the slotted disk into a lifting or lowering movement of thedistributing rail, said connecting rod supported on the slotted disk.34. A tilting device according to claim 28 wherein the slot cuts throughthe shaft of the slotted disk with an imaginary extension of itslengthwise extension, the pin disk is capable of swiveling, for aswiveling of the distributing rail, from its neutral position into itsoperating position by substantially 90°, and the slot has its lengthwiseextension tangential to the shaft of the pin disk in the operatingposition and neutral position in each case, and at least one bearingsurface located on the pin disk and the slotted disk lying one on theother for the self-locking of the cam drive.
 35. A tilting deviceaccording to claim 29 wherein the slot cuts through the shaft of theslotted disk with an imaginary extension of its lengthwise extension,the pin disk is capable of swiveling, for a swiveling of thedistributing rail, from its neutral position into its operating positionby substantially 90°, and the slot has its lengthwise extensiontangential to the shaft of the pin disk in the operating position andneutral position in each case, and at least one bearing surface locatedon the pin disk and the slotted disk lying one on the other for theself-locking of the cam drive.
 36. A tilting device according to claim30 wherein the slot cuts through the shaft of the slotted disk with animaginary extension of its lengthwise extension, the pin disk is capableof swiveling, for a swiveling of the distributing rail, from its neutralposition into its operating position by substantially 90°, and the slothas its lengthwise extension tangential to the shaft of the pin disk inthe operating position and neutral position in each case, and at leastone bearing surface located on the pin disk and the slotted disk lyingone on the other for the self-locking of the cam drive.
 37. A tiltingdevice according to claim 31 wherein the slot cuts through the shaft ofthe slotted disk with an imaginary extension of its lengthwiseextension, the pin disk is capable of swiveling, for a swiveling of thedistributing rail, from its neutral position into its operating positionby substantially 90°, and the slot has its lengthwise extensiontangential to the shaft of the pin disk in the operating position andneutral position in each case, and at least one bearing surface locatedon the pin disk and the slotted disk lying one on the other for theself-locking of the cam drive.
 38. A tilting device according to claim32 wherein the slot cuts through the shaft of the slotted disk with animaginary extension of its lengthwise extension, the pin disk is capableof swiveling, for a swiveling of the distributing rail, from its neutralposition into its operating position by substantially 90°, and the slothas its lengthwise extension tangential to the shaft of the pin disk inthe operating position and neutral position in each case, and at leastone bearing surface located on the pin disk and the slotted disk lyingone on the other for the self-locking of the cam drive.
 39. A tiltingdevice according to claim 33 wherein the guide rail, the tilting rail,and the distributing element are each provided on the right andleft-hand side of the tilting device, viewed in the direction oftransport, and the coupling rods each engage alternately on both sidesof the tilting arms, so that the guide rollers of the successive chassiseach engage alternately in the right and left guide rails and tiltingrails.
 40. A tilting device according to claim 16 wherein the guiderail, the tilting rail, and the distributing element are each providedon the right and left-hand side of the tilting device, viewed in thedirection of transport, and the coupling rods each engage alternately onboth sides of the tilting arms, so that the guide rollers of thesuccessive chassis each engage alternately in the right and left guiderails and tilting rails.
 41. A tilting device according to claim 23wherein the guide rail, the tilting rail, and the distributing elementare each provided on the right and left-hand side of the tilting device,viewed in the direction of transport, and the coupling rods each engagealternately on both sides of the tilting arms, so that the guide rollersof the successive chassis each engage alternately in the right and leftguide rails and tilting rails.
 42. A tilting device according to claim28 wherein the guide rail, the tilting rail, and the distributingelement are each provided on the right and left-hand side of the tiltingdevice, viewed in the direction of transport, and the coupling rods eachengage alternately on both sides of the tilting arms, so that the guiderollers of the successive chassis each engage alternately in the rightand left guide rails and tilting rails.
 43. A tilting device accordingto claim 34 wherein the guide rail, the tilting rail, and thedistributing element are each provided on the right and left-hand sideof the tilting device, viewed in the direction of transport, and thecoupling rods each engage alternately on both sides of the tilting arms,so that the guide rollers of the successive chassis each engagealternately in the right and left guide rails and tilting rails.